Agreed although according to the Times he wasnt the only one pouring drinks over others. I feel you either punish all or none and particularly in this case the punishment is so harsh. Not condoning his behaviour but it is unfair if he has neen made a scapegoat.

Whatever the actual circumstances surrounding the incident, our man has seemingly now been cast into the wilderness...

What's happened to this great talent? When is he going to start getting big scores again? Is his confidence shot by all the England stuff (being dropped, then expelled etc)?

Good question. He is a talent but perhaps overachieved two years ago, when he couldn't put a foot wrong and since then has had his international "issues" followed by some poor form and bad luck this season. Loss of form happens to all batsmen and in his case I think we have to bear with him. He seems to be a confident guy and that should help him pull through this.

I'm losing patience more now with Keogh who has been in poor form form far too long and keeps getting and wasting chances (now perhaps due mostly to injuries). Unless he turns it round very fast I seriously think he should go at the end of the season.

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Ben has been in pretty woeful form this season - as have all the batters really. We have neglected the batting for years and we are getting what we deserve. We have not signed any specialist bats for so long. Wakeley embodies the problem - an average of around 30 in div 2 cricket - one ton a year if you are lucky - lots of low scores. Keogh averages below 30. Yet these two seem regular picks - why? Levi rarely plays and rarely scores big when he does - then we have lots of bits and pieces guys who do ok but are not long term champ cricket batters - Cobb, Rossington et al. Only Newton has shown something in the last couple of years.

Ben has been in pretty woeful form this season - as have all the batters really. We have neglected the batting for years and we are getting what we deserve. We have not signed any specialist bats for so long. Wakeley embodies the problem - an average of around 30 in div 2 cricket - one ton a year if you are lucky - lots of low scores. Keogh averages below 30. Yet these two seem regular picks - why? Levi rarely plays and rarely scores big when he does - then we have lots of bits and pieces guys who do ok but are not long term champ cricket batters - Cobb, Rossington et al. Only Newton has shown something in the last couple of years.

Everything you say is spot on. Duckett is the one batsman we have who we know has the quality, but it is worrying that this bad run is going on for so long. You are right that there are too many who never perform but keep getting in because we have a thin squad (regardless of what Ripley/Wakely say).

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It's so disappointing to see Ben score so poorly when we know what he can do.
Are we a victim to our T20 success as a team in that the top six really struggle to grind out an innings in the 4 day game?

He would be less of a loss than Willey, or even Brooks, in my view. I was pleased that we managed to keep him the last time his contract was up (2016?) but since then, he's plateaued, if that's the word. Two years ago, he had lot of potential - he still has, but possibly not as much as we thought. He might be another Wakely or Sales, lots of ability but never really fulfilled potential and ends up being a steady county pro. He's currently averaging 28 in Division Two of the Championship and 30 in the T20.